Infiltrating into their world

As I made my way back downstairs, I stumbled, and Rhoda, the new maid, caught me. "Are you okay, miss?" she asked, concern etched on her face. I smiled weakly and nodded.

"Everyone's at GM Gallery for an art auction event," she informed me. "It starts at 4 pm." My mind raced as I realized this was my chance to infiltrate their world.

"Should I help you get dressed? You're not dressed for the event. I'll make sure to dress you up appropriately for the event" she was so excited. Looks like the new maid will be a very useful person.

"Okay" We went up to my dressing room together. Rhoda selected clothes for me and help me with my make up.

"I'll help you to pick a dress that fits the event" she scanned my clothes.

"And how do you know that? Clothes that fits in for different occasions" I asked her.

"Young madam, I'm Rhoda. I really love clothes. Actually, I wanted to be a client ambassador just like Aren Yoo"

"Aren Yoo?"

"Why? You don't know her. She is a very popular client ambassador which beauty and brains. She went to Ivy League school and her fashion sense is impeccable. I went to great lengths to watch all her concerts from the haute couture fashion week to all... Ahh, I'm talking too much right?"

"Hahaha" she made me laugh which I haven't done sincerely in a while. She is so energetic. I've fallen in love with her personality now.

"You look like you like fashion a lot"

"Yes, I do. When I hear conversation about fashion I begin to lose my mind. I'm so in love with fashion" she was excited just talking about it.

"I see. Then why didn't you chase your dreams? Why are you here instead?"

"Umm, I'm an orphan. My father passed away before I was born and my mum passed when I was twelve years old. I was alone most of my life. Also, I didn't give up on my dream I'm here because of my dream. I'll make a lot of money and take fashion in this country to another level!" She finished what she was saying energetically unlike those who cry after telling people their story.

"I'm an orphan too" I smiled, sincerely "I can't comfort you" I added.

"Ahh. Which type of bag brand do you like; Chanel bags or Louis Vuitton handbags or Hermes bags? You have all here you just have to choose" she smiled at my bags.

"I'm more of a microbag person" I informed her pointing at my microbags.

"Ohh. Me too. People often ask why I love them but I don't really know I just love them. Even if you can't keep anything in it"she was so energetic.

"You can keep a lip balm" we laughed, heartily. That was one conversation I wanted to lift up my mood.

"Wooow, you have a McQueen leather skirt too" she saw it hanging in my walk-in closet.

"Yes, I bought it when I was in L.A few years back" I informed her.

"This is my first time seeing it?" She gasped and closed her mouth with one hand in surprise.

"Do you want to touch it?"

"Can I?"

"Yes," she touched it and smiled again. Looks like I made someone dream come through in a minute.

"Its gonna be a great event" I said and smiled, knowingly.

With Rhoda's help, I got dressed and ready. We chatted about fashion, and I was struck by her enthusiasm and knowledge. As we arrived at the gallery, I felt a mix of nerves and determination

I walked in gracefully into the gallery with my tulle calf-lenght dress with drapping. The clothes was colour red matching with my makeup because I came for war. To me, it's not the colour black that signals the la patrona, it's the colour red along with red heels.The room fell silent as I entered, and Aunt Chloe's eyes narrowed. "What the hell is she doing here?" she whispered to her assistant. I smiled sweetly, ready for battle.

"So this is the famous Artist MOM latest piece..." Aunt Chloe was showing artworks to people when I came in.

All eyes were on me. I was a little nervous. You can't imagine the cream of society seated; conglomerates, politicians, professors, businessmen and women, high ranking government officials e.t.c. Men and women who seemed to have made their mark in the world.

I quickly composed myself "Go on please" I smiled to her.

"I'll ask her to leave"

"Don't do that. Get lost" she dismissed her and Dianne left the platform. I saw fire burning from her eyes. I guess the real war begins now.

"I'm very sorry for the interruption. I'll go on now...this piece..." She continued.

I remembered vividly when Mummy painted in this gallery. She was a very great artist whose life and dreams was cut short.

"How are we sure that this MOM piece isn't a fake, Mrs. Jamie? I heard the replica looks exactly the same and the artist has been missing for seven months now and you just say you got this paint three months ago. Care to explain?" As the event unfolded, I questioned the authenticity of the artwork.

"Ahh" she was trying to think about another new lie but I didn't let her finish. I'll make sure you lose your mind right here right now.

"You won't tell us it was imported by a ghost, will you? Or has he been found without any of us knowing here?"

"And if it was a worker or someone close to him that sold it to you, it will be illegal. He is the only owner of his piece and he makes his decisions, don't you think?" A familiar voice spoke. It was siding with me, I looked back to see who it was.

Stacey, my friend from L.A., surprisingly appeared, siding with me.

"Care to explain to us?" He questioned Aunt Chloe, smiling to me. I returned the smile. This guy!

He was so in love with artwork, he is an artist. But I was mad at him. How could he come to an art auction before informing me that he was in town? Let me finish this then I'll make him apologize a hundred times for this.

"I didn't know that he... was missing. I just received the... piece" she was stuttering.

I didn't want to say anything again. It's like I nailed the issue but I can't go further. She will suspect me. I will have to play the good bad niece-in-law.

"That isn't right" A man spoke.

"Its incompetent for someone managing an art gallery not to know any of this news" A potbellied old man seconded.

"You can't sell this piece to us"

"It's a fake. I felt it the moment I saw"

"What am I doing here?" A woman took her bag and left angrily.The tension escalated, and the event ended in chaos, with attendees storming out.

"Chairwoman," Aunt Chloe tried to run after her but she was stopped by another man.

"You wasted our valuable time to see a fake piece? I'm very disappointed in you, Mrs. Hermes "

"We are so disappointed"

"You didn't do well this time" All of them started leaving one by one. I achieved my goal!

Mum, you see what just happened. I will never allow your murderers get the post you worked hard for, I thought.

The event was over and a painting caught my eyes so I kept on looking with my hands crossed. I wanted to look at it from the artist point of view. What was he trying to say with this painting? I wondered.

As I gazed at a painting, Stacey approached me, and I felt a mix of emotions. How could he come back to town without telling me? But for now, I had to keep up the act.

"Ahem, ahem," Stacey faked a cough.